Amrit,
The only one i've found is Sgt W.M. Skinner of 74sqdn, injured in collision with another a/c on 30/8/40. I'm assuming that Bill is short for William, and cannot find anything in the London Gazette for the DFC. He's not on any list that i have, and not mentioned on 242sqdn site or BOB Historical Society site.
Have just found that W.M.Skinner became pow on 06/07/41 after being shot down over France, so he's not your man.

Skinner

A: The Lancaster Bomber. It was like driving a nice car. It was a great four-engine bomber that I flew during the Second World War.

Q: What was your worst accident?

I was in Northern Ireland fighting the Germans in 1943 when my plane was shot from under me. I received third degree burns to my whole body.

I would be fascinated to find out how he came to be shot down in Northern Ireland in 1943 by the Luftwaffe and how he ended up on Lancasters after he is claimed to have scored 21 victories as a fighter pilot. How is it that he does not appear in any listing of the top scoring allied pilots lists? Surely we would have known about him long before now? is this Walter Mitty, or does someone out there have proof that this is not just a tall story?

He is not listed under RCAF aces, Australian aces, French-Canadia aces, British aces, Irish aces, New Zealnd, Northern Irish or Scottish aces. I could go on but you might wish to check the following website http://jpgleize.club.fr/aces/ww2.htm#AF which appears to be very comprehensive and would surely not have missed such a talented fighter?

This one reminds me of my days as an editor with rookie reporters who came back with human interest stories that were so attractive that they didn't even do a cursory check on whether they were true or not - especially when it involves a senior. It happens often in local papers.

I have contacted the editor to inquire about this story and will let the board know what I learn.

And to add to Paul's link to the local politician's site that mentions the same man... this too I have seen before, so it's no guarantee of anything.

Last edited by dfuller52; 5th February 2009 at 16:50.
Reason: addt'l comment

Flying Officer William Archibald SKINNER (Can/J.
87369), R.C.A.F., 103 Sqn.
This officer was pilot and captain of an aircraft
detailed to attack Munich. On the outward
flight, trouble developed in the port inner engine.
The oil and coolant temperatures rose and flames
issued from the exhaust manifold. The propeller
had to be feathered. This did not deter Flying
Officer Skinner from continuing to the target which,
despite fighter interference and opposition from the
ground defences, was attacked successfully. The
weather was bad but Flying Officer Skinner flew
the aircraft back to base. His determination was
typical of that which he has shown throughout his
tour of operational duty.

Thank you everyone, for your responses, your diligence, and for allowing me to breath easy again - when I first saw the story early this morning, I checked all my sources but kept thinking I had missed something fundamental in the story.

I too have come to the conclusion that this is oneof two things - either the author/reporter is a complete aviation novice and has mangled the details, or the subject is indeed not what he claims. Though I would not make any direct accussations until we check, and double check, everything, this is starting to look like the case of Eric Jephcott, the so-called 617 Squadron "dambuster". I posted that story on another forum:

http://ww2chat.com/forums/news-articles/2424-dambuster-fraudster.html

Originally Posted by dfuller52

I have contacted the editor to inquire about this story and will let the board know what I learn.

Beat me to it :) I wanted to check with you guys before I did the same. I look forward to see what they have to say.

cheers guys

A

BTW - what is the collective term for members - rafcommanders? rafcommandos? rafcommandites?

Skinner?

All my sources on No. 242 (F) Squadron and Canadians in the Battle of Britain show no mention of anyone with the last name of Skinner. I'm sure Hugh Halliday can straighten this all up in a minute.

As for 21 aircraft shot down, then why is his name not up there with these other Commonwealth aces with similar numbers?

Donald Kingaby
From the U. K.
Served with the Royal Air Force
21 kills plus 2 shared kills

William V. Crawford-Crompton
From New Zealand
Served with the Royal Air Force
21½ kills

Raymond Brown Hesselyn
From New Zealand
Served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force
21½ kills

>>>"You couldn't eat because in a rollover you'd lose anything in your stomach"<<<

That statement wants to make me barf. I can't tell you how many times I've eaten a full meal and then gone flying and carried out aerobatics. He must have one weak stomach for a fighter pilot.

Since when were you able to enlist in a particular squadron? Perhaps the closest thing to that might have been the Auxiliary Air Force. No. 242 (F) Squadron was re-formed on the 30th of October 1939, the year the reporter says he enlisted in the squadron.

I'll go out on a limb and say this guy is full of bull sh*t! This story is so full of holes, that if it was an aircraft, its wings would never develop lift.